National Game Registry 1981: Yars’ Revenge

YARS’ REVENGE
original platform
Atari 2600
developer/publisher
Atari
key personnel
Howard Scott Warshaw

A “Yar” is a spaceship/bug creature whose mission in life is to exact revenge on its archenemy, the Qotile, cowardly hiding behind a huge wall. Destroying this barrier is only one of the issues that the Yar must deal with, including avoiding a roving cursor and lining up the power shot the it acquires by eating parts of the wall (?!). The screen is split by a strip of static that, combined with droning sound effects, results in a surprisingly hypnotic experience.

Yar’s Revenge was inducted on February 23rd, 2009.

Return to the National Game Registry to view more inductees.

National Game Registry: Atari 2600 VCS

image: Atari Times

image: Old Computers

This article features the best games released for the Atari 2600 Video Computer System as selected by the National Game Preservation Board and recommended for permanent preservation by the United States Library of Congress National Game Registry.

System: Atari 2600 Video Computer System
Manufacturer: Atari
Debut: 1977
Nation of origin: United States

The Atari 2600 VCS was one of the first reprogrammable systems. Previous consoles were self-contained games, similar to modern Plug & Play units. The 2600 used cartridges as its media source, allowing for an unlimited number of games. The bulk of the 2600’s high-profile games were conversions of arcade games, not surprising considering arcades ruled the video game world in the 1970s and early 1980s. In spite of this situation, the 2600 was home to a handful of extremely high-quality games designed and programmed specifically for the system. These games have withstood the test of time and earned the right to be permanently preserved by the Library of Congress National Game Registry. Without further delay, the 2600 inductees:

Video Olympics (1977)
Adventure (1980)
Haunted House (1981)
Yars’ Revenge (1981)
Astroblast (1982)
Pitfall! (1982)
Pitfall II: Lost Caverns (1983)

REFERENCES AND ADDITIONAL INFO

Emulation: National Game Registry recommends Stella for Atari 2600 VCS emulation on home computers.

Manuals: Most Atari 2600 VCS games are less than self-explanatory. An extensive collection of original manuals may be viewed at AtariAge.

Reviews: AtariAge offers a database of online 2600 reviews. Classic Game Room features informative 2600 video reviews.

Visit the National Game Registry to view more inductees.